Agression was part of the first wave of skatepunk bands to emerge from southern California in the early '80s.
The album "Don't Be Mistaken" followed in 1983, chock-full of rapid-fire skatepunk rhythms. Contributions to various Mystic Records compilations followed, with Agression's sound wavering between skatepunk and more generic heavy metal; a self-titled LP on that label appeared in 1985, as did the "official" bootleg of an Agression show at the New York club CBGB. Agression was able to get as far as CBGB with the aid of their manager, Scott Hatch, who also managed the more established hardcore outfit Fear.
Drugs and alcohol ravaged the band, and in 1985 Big Bob, Mark, and Henry moved to Colorado. Despite a series of low-quality live recordings for Mystic, the band couldn't re-capture the sneering rage of its original material, and eventually ground to a halt. However, in 2000, Knowles was inspired to get the band back together. Hickey came on board, but before anything could be recorded, Hickey died of liver failure. Knowles went on, putting together a new version of Agression with old friends of the band. But in August 2002, he too passed away after a bout with leukemia. In Spring 2003, Cleopatra issued the Agression retrospective Full Circle; the collection included bonus live material.
Once again Agression is trying to make a comeback with no original members. It will never be the same as the original nardcore skatepunk band Agression
Stop The Clock
Agression Lyrics
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Can't find a job, total frustration
Got no money, totally broke
Life is boring, there's no more hope
Don't tell me how I should live
You always take and never give
I'm myself that's what I wanna be
Stop the clock, stop the action
Get out if you don't like my reaction
I've tried your trips they're not for me
They make me sick, make me wanna heave
And I'm blowing chunks all over the place
Some might hit you in the face
But I'm myself that's what I wanna be
I wanna be me, fuck society
The lyrics of Agression's "Stop the Clock" are about the frustrations and constraints of modern life. The opening lines, "Get out of the house, take a vacation / Can't find a job, total frustration / Got no money, totally broke / Life is boring, there's no more hope" express a sense of entrapment and dissatisfaction that many people feel in today's society. The singer feels trapped, unable to find work or enjoyment, and feels that there is no way out of their situation.
The next lines, "Don't tell me how I should live / You always take and never give / I'm myself that's what I wanna be / I wanna be me, fuck society", express a rebellion against the pressures of society to conform and follow a pre-defined path. The singer refuses to be told how to live their life and rejects societal norms. They want to be true to themselves and live their life on their own terms, without being constrained or hemmed in by external expectations.
The chorus, "Stop the clock, stop the action / Get out if you don't like my reaction / I've tried your trips they're not for me / They make me sick, make me wanna heave", further reinforces the idea of rebellion against societal pressures. The singer is tired of feeling pressured to conform to society's expectations and is calling for a break from the pressure and scrutiny. The singer's choice to reject what society expects of them may not make sense to others, but it is necessary for their peace of mind.
In the final lines of the song, "And I'm blowing chunks all over the place / Some might hit you in the face / But I'm myself that's what I wanna be / I wanna be me, fuck society", the singer is willing to be messy and confrontational in their rejection of societal norms. They are unapologetic for their choices and are willing to make a mess in order to assert their independence.
Line by Line Meaning
Get out of the house, take a vacation
Leave your mundane, monotonous routine and seek some adventure.
Can't find a job, total frustration
Being jobless can be really annoying and stressful.
Got no money, totally broke
Not having enough money can be truly demotivating.
Life is boring, there's no more hope
When everything is same, life becomes dull and uninspiring with no way ahead.
Don't tell me how I should live
I am fully capable of making my own choices and living on my terms without anyone's constant advice or lectures.
You always take and never give
Your constant dependence on me and taking me for granted is annoying and unfair.
I'm myself that's what I wanna be
I want to be myself and not pretend to be someone else just to please others.
I wanna be me, fuck society
I don't want society's pressure to define who I am or who I should be.
Stop the clock, stop the action
Sometimes life can be too fast-paced, and we need to take a moment to pause and reflect.
Get out if you don't like my reaction
If you can't handle my honest and raw reaction to things, then it's best to stay away from me.
I've tried your trips they're not for me
I've been there and done that, but those experiences didn't resonate with me.
They make me sick, make me wanna heave
Those experiences were not just unfulfilling but downright nauseating.
And I'm blowing chunks all over the place
The experience was so revolting that it made me nauseous and caused me to vomit.
Some might hit you in the face
The consequences of my actions may affect those closest to me.
But I'm myself that's what I wanna be
Regardless of the consequences, I want to stay true to who I am.
I wanna be me, fuck society
Society should not dictate who I am, and I will not conform to society's narrow expectations.
Contributed by Violet L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.